Automatic accompaniment apparatus with indexed pattern searching

Abstract

An automatic accompaniment apparatus is provided with a pattern memory for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns and a reference memory for storing a plurality of references corresponding to respective accompaniment patterns, each reference being representative of a characteristic feature of each corresponding accompaniment pattern. A panel board is provided for inputting a search condition representative of a desired characteristic feature. A CPU operates for searching the references of the reference memory according to the inputted search condition so as to select from the pattern memory a particular accompaniment pattern having the desired characteristic feature specified by the search condition. A tone generator is operated for automatically performing an accompaniment according to the selected accompaniment pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic accompaniment apparatus comprising: pattern memory means for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns;   reference memory means for storing a plurality of characteristic references corresponding to respective accompaniment patterns, each of the plurality of characteristic references being representative of a characteristic feature of each corresponding accompaniment pattern;   input means for inputting a search condition representative of a desired characteristic feature;   searching means for searching the plurality of characteristic references stored in the reference memory means according to the inputted search condition to select from the pattern memory means a particular accompaniment pattern having the desired characteristic feature specified by the search condition; and   performing means for automatically performing an accompaniment according to the selected accompaniment pattern.   
     
     
       2. An automatic accompaniment apparatus according to claim 1, further including audition means for conducting an audition of the selected accompaniment pattern to evaluate the selected accompaniment pattern prior to actual performance of the automatic accompaniment. 
     
     
       3. An automatic accompaniment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference memory means has means for recording each of the plurality of characteristic references in the form of different terms representative of various aspects of the characteristic feature of the corresponding accompaniment pattern, and wherein the input means includes term input means for inputting the search condition in the form of a combination of proposed terms representing a desired characteristic feature. 
     
     
       4. An automatic accompaniment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the term input means includes means for inputting a logical formula composed of a logical combination of the proposed terms. 
     
     
       5. An automatic accompaniment apparatus according to claim 1, further including designating means for designating each of multiple parts which constitute an ensemble accompaniment, and wherein the searching means includes means for selecting an accompaniment pattern for each designated part. 
     
     
       6. An automatic accompaniment apparatus according to claim 1, further including designating means, operable when the search means finds two or more accompaniment patterns in the pattern memory means having the same desired characteristic feature, for designating one of the accompaniment patterns to be performed. 
     
     
       7. An automatic accompaniment apparatus according to claim 6, further including display means for displaying the accompaniment patterns found by the searching means. 
     
     
       8. An automatic accompaniment apparatus comprising: pattern memory means for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns which are grouped into several parts;   reference memory means for storing a characteristic feature as a characteristic reference for each of the accompaniment patterns in corresponding manner;   designating means for selectively designating a respective one of the several parts;   input means for inputting a proposed characteristic feature as a search condition for each designated part;   searching means for searching the character reference stored in the reference memory means for each accompaniment pattern according to the inputted search condition to select a particular accompaniment pattern which satisfies the proposed characteristic feature; and   performing means for reading out a set of the selected accompaniment patterns from the respective parts of the pattern memory means to effect an automatic accompaniment which is an ensemble of the selected accompaniment patterns.   
     
     
       9. A method of selecting an automatic accompaniment pattern to be played on an automatic accompaniment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns;   storing a plurality of characteristic references corresponding to respective accompaniment patterns, each of the plurality of characteristic references being representative of a characteristic feature of each corresponding accompaniment pattern;   inputting a search condition representative of a desired characteristic feature;   searching the plurality of stored characteristic references according to the inputted search condition to select a particular accompaniment pattern having the desired characteristic feature specified by the search condition from the stored accompaniment patterns.   
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9, further including the step of automatically performing an accompaniment according to the selected accompaniment pattern. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 9, further including the step of auditioning the selected accompaniment pattern to evaluate the selected accompaniment pattern prior to actual performance of the automatic accompaniment. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of storing the plurality of characteristic references includes storing each of the plurality of characteristic references in the form of different terms representative of various aspects of the characteristic feature of the corresponding accompaniment pattern, and wherein the step of inputting the search includes inputting the search condition in the form of a combination of proposed terms representing a desired characteristic feature. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the inputting the search further includes inputting a logical formula composed of a logical combination of the proposed terms. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 9, further including the steps of designating each of multiple parts which constitute an ensemble accompaniment, and selecting an accompaniment pattern for each designated part.